Centering device for couplings.



H. BLANGHARD.

GENTERING DEVICE FOR COUPLINGS.

API LIOATION FILED SEPT. 19, 1912.

Patented Aug. 4, 1914.

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HENRY BLANCHARD, OF ALLIANCE, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN STEEL FOUNDRIES, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

' CENTERING DEVICE FOR COUPLINGS.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 4., 1914.

Application filed September 19, 1912. Serial No. 721,213.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HENRY BLANCHARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Alliance, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Centering Devices for Couplers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to railway cars and has particular reference to a novel carcoupler centering mechanism.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a centering device for use in connection with passenger equipment.

On long passenger-cars, many railroads require that a centering device shall be provided, that is, an automatic centering mechanism by means of which the coupler is maintained in longitudinal alinement with the car when the car is unattached to other cars- This centering mechanism also assists in straightening the couplers into longitudinal alinement when the cars are in service and after passing from a curve, it being understood that While on the curve the couplers must deflect.

Generally stated, the mechanism described includes a coupler-head provided with a tail, draft-rigging mechanism, and a stem or link connecting the draft-rigging mechanism to the coupler at a point near the coupler head. Spring cushions are provided on each side of the coupler-shank and connecting link. By my arrangement the coupler is permitted the maximum angular movement and such angular movement is secured without affecting in any way the draft-riggingmechanism. Furthermore, the

arrangement is such that under side-wise movement of the coupler-head both spring cushions are brought into action, in distinction from devices in which only one spring cushion. is caused to'act at each deflection of the coupler-head. A point to be noted is that the centering device is independent and self-contained and does not form an essential auxiliary part of the draft-rigging, neither is the coupler or shank in any way weakened by the presence of the centering device, the parts being serviceable Without the centering device.

Another feature is in the construction of the cushioning devices in that they may be easily removed and inspected without interfering with the coupler or draft-rigging.

stood. A yoke 12 surrounds the springs. A

coupler 13 of any preferred form is provided with.a bifurcated shank 14 extending rearwardly to a point close to the yoke 12. A stem 15 is secured to the yoke 12 by means of the pivot-pin 1G, connection to the coupler being at a point close to the couplerhead by means of a short pin 17. This pin is preferably flush with the top and bot-tom surfaces of the shank 14,in order that the coupler may move forward and backward without restriction. The coupler is supported on a suitable carry-iron 18. It will be seen that the connection between the drafgear and the coupler is at a point close to the coupler-head and that the ends of the shank 11 are free to oscillate.

My novel cushioning devices are applied to the center sills 10, the faceplate 19 being secured to the inner face of the sill, and a housing 20 to the outer face of the sills. A plunger 21. having an integral stem 22 is passed through the opening in the sills and fits snugly the housing 20 and the face-plate 19. .The plunger is provided with long bearing surfaces 23, a spring 24 being seated between the shell 23 and the integral stem 22 hearing against the plunger and the end wall of the casing 20. The tension of the spring 24 may be adjusted and the motion of the plunger limited by means of suitable nuts secured to the stem 22. It will be seen that the plunger is sufficiently wide to bear against both the bifurcated ends of the shank 14 and the stem 15. Furthermore, that in the extreme movement of the springprossed plunger. it is guided and the spring entirely inclosed. This prevents the possibility of the spring being broken by side thrust or torsional strains, and, furthermore, the spring is entirely protected from the weather. In case a spring should be broken in service, such fact is clearly indicated by the position of the projecting-end An advantage arising from the construction of the coupler shank and its connection to the draft-rigging is in that underv side movement of the coupler-head, both centering springs may be brought into action; that is, referring to Fig. 2, assuming a movement of the coupler-head in the direction of the arrow, the shank 14: will tend to press the lower plunger 21 whereas the stem will tend to compress the upper plunger 21. By this arrangement, much lighter springs may be used, in that both springs are I brought into action at each deflection of the coupler. Furthermore, by my novel mounting of the springs longer and more flexible springs may be installed.

bination of draft sills carrying draft rigging stops, a yoke, a stem pivoted to and projecting forwardly from said yoke, a bi:

furcated coupler shank, means for pivoting said stem to said shank at a point near the forward end of said shank, and centering springs carried by said sills and having a bearing on both said stem and said shank,\

substantially as described.

HENRY 'BLANGI-IARD.

Witnesses;

R. E. MORGAN, E. P. KINNE. 

